Tour FAQ

Q: Who may tour the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels?
A: Anyone may come to tour the basilica. We welcome people of all faiths of all ages. We welcome families with children. 

Q: When are guided tours offered?
A: Guided tours of the Basilica are offered three Fridays per month following the 12:15 pm Mass at 1:00pm. We do not offer guided tours on First Fridays as Eucharistic Adoration is held. Private guided tours (always free) are available on other days/times but must be scheduled at least two (2) weeks in advance. 

Q: Can I visit the Basilica without taking the guided tour?
A: Yes. The Basilica is open to the public for visitation from 6:30 am-6:00 pm, M-F and 6:30 am-3:00 pm on weekends. Please be aware, however, that the Basilica is a working parish church. Please see our Mass Times.  Additionally, if you wish to visit on a Friday night or Saturday, please contact the Parish Office, as weddings and special services may be taking place. If you are driving a distance to get here, it is also a good idea to check that the basilica is available for your visit at the day/time you wish to  come. email: [email protected] or call 716-372-4841.

Q: How can I tour the basilica on my own? 
We offer two ways to tour the basilica on your own using your mobile device:
1.  INTERACTIVE TOUR MAP - (requires internet connection)
2. VIRTUAL TOUR—56-minute video (requires internet connection)
You are welcome to use your headphones connected to your mobile device to listen to the video while in the basilica. The interactive tour map also has three short videos imbeded in it if you wish to listen to those. These virtural tours are an educational and enjoyable experience that includes videos, a detailed floorplan of the basilica to follow, and links to informational text.

Q: Do I need tickets or a reservation for the guided tour?
A: No. Tickets are not required to take a tour. All tours are free. Reservations are requested only for groups of 10 or more, but there is no maximum number for groups seeking a guided tour. Please complete our online tour request form if your group is more than 10 persons, and please note that group tours requiring a guide must be confirmed in writing by the Basilica tour coordinator before they are considered scheduled.

Q: What does the tour include?
A: The tour includes all areas of the upper church. Content includes history (since 1850), art and architecture within the context of the spiritual beliefs of the community that created and decorated the basilica since 1913 when the cornerstone was laid. The Children of Fatima Chapel and basilica crypt are not ordinarily part of the guided tour. 

Q: How long does the tour last/How much time should I allow for my group to be at the Basilica?
A: Tours last approximately 45 minutes to one hour. 

Q: Is there a charge?
A: No. All tours are free. That being said, the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels relies on contributions for its operations. A suggested donation of $5 per person is a general rule of thumb, but it is certainly not required. If you are bringing a large group, and wish to make a donation, please make out a single check payable to the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and present it to your tour guide(s) when you arrive. If you are paying with cash, please place your donation in the historic bronze donation boxes in the vestibule as you enter the front doors of the basilica. Online donations are accepted at https://www.smaolean.org/give.

Q: Can we have a Mass?
A: Schedule permitting, groups are welcome to have a Mass at the Basilica, but generally must provide their own clergy. We can discuss this need. Your group is always welcome to join us during our regularly scheduled Mass times. Groups of 50 people or fewer who wish to have a private Mass can use the Children of Fatima Chapel if the main church is otherwise in use, but larger groups must use the main church. Your Mass will generally be scheduled either one hour prior to or following your tour. Priests from outside of the Diocese of Buffalo must email a letter of good standing ASAP to [email protected]. 

Q: Does a visit to the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels include the opportunity for Catholics in good standing to receive a Plenary Indulgence?
A: Yes. Please see our link detailing the Plenary Indulgence associated with a Minor Basilica. 

Q: Is the Basilica wheelchair friendly?
A: The Basilica is wheelchair accessible with ramps at the front doors and at the east entrance. Restroom facilities are on the main level of the church, so there are no steps to navigate once inside the church. Should your group need to use our hospitality center in the lower level for lunch or other functions like a conference or lecture, the basilica has an elevator inside on the main church level which accesses that lower level. We also have a padded rocking chair that inclines (in the rear of the church) for those who require that type of seating.

Q: How do we get there, and where can we park?
A: Directions are on our Plan Your Visit page of this website. Please scroll to the interactive map at the bottom of that page. You can also click "Mass Times & Directions link on this page. Please refer to the photo below for designated parking areas.
Parking: During weekdays outside of Mass hours, you are invited to park in the handicap parking lot next to the basilica (without a handicap plaquard). Street parking along 1st Street (red brick paved road next to basilica) is also available in addition to the other parking areas noted in the photograph above. Please note, your tour bus may park alongside the east entrance ramp (as pictured below) for the entire duration of your visit. That is where you will disembark from your bus to begin your tour. 

Q: Where do we meet our guide?
A: Tours will begin by the front Entrance doors. Your guide will likely meet you at your bus door if you come by bus.

Q: Can we eat our lunch on the property?
A: Yes. We have a spacious dining/hospitality room in the lower level of the basilica. This is accessible by stairs or an elevator in the main church. You are welcome to use this space to enjoy the lunch you brought with you. You are also welcome to arrange for a catered lunch to be brought in and set up by the caterer. There are several restaurants and eateries in the neighborhood who can cater your lunch. We can discuss options when you call.  If you are bringing a group, such as a school field trip, and wish to eat a bag lunch outdoors, you are certainly welcome to sit on the basilica lawn and enjoy your lunch. However, we request that you bring trash bags and make sure the area is cleared of litter before you leave.

Q: Is photography permitted?
A: Photography inside the Basilica, for personal use only, is permitted. Flash photography is not allowed if a Mass or liturgical service is taking place.

Q: How can we make a donation?
A: You may make a donation in person by depositing your cash or check in the “Basilica Donations” box in the vestibule or, more simply, you can click here and contribute to the basilica with a one-time or recurring donation. Thank you for your generosity.

If you have any further questions about tours, please email them to Jennifer Kane, parish historian/tour coordinator [email protected].